Dr. Marisol Clark-Ibáñez is a full professor in the Sociology Department at California State University San Marcos. Dr. Clark-Ibáñez is Peruvian-Irish-American, born in Lima, Perú, and grew up in Northern California. She earned her doctorate in Sociology at University of California, Davis in 2003. She is a Latina scholar focused on the areas of immigration, education, and social justice.  

SERVING STUDENTS 

Dr. Clark-Ibáñez enjoys teaching courses that inspire students to think about social issues through data-informed and critical perspectives. In her role as Associate Department Chair, she focuses on student advising, supporting any challenges they may be facing, and building upon students’ strengths. She and Dr. Brandon Moore coordinate student professional development series, “Tuesday Tips.” She also holds regular student sessions of “Move on It Mondays” (focusing on graduate school and internships) and “Goal Getters” (career readiness for graduating majors and alumni).  

RESEARCH 

She is the author of numerous articles on education, children, and immigration. She published a book with a collective of students and community members called, Undocumented Latino Immigrants: Navigating Their Worlds (2015). She and Dr. Richelle Swan recently published Unauthorized: Portraits of Latino Immigrants (2019), which focuses on contemporary experiences of undocumented Latinx immigrants in the United States.  

Most recently, she enjoys working in the community and with amazing colleagues on two major projects. With Dr. Carolina Valdivia (UC Irvine) at the lead, they are proud to work with numerous community college, college, graduate students, and community members for the Undocu-Research Project. She also works with Dr. Youwen Ouyang (Computer Science) and Flor Saldaña, M.A., (Sociology) on projects and research related to CS education, culturally sustaining pedagogies, and CS faculty development.  

HONORS  

Early in her career at CSUSM, she was the recipient of Faculty Advocate Award from the Educational Opportunity Program and Student Support Services (EOP/SSS). She was the recipient of the CSUSM President’s Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching Innovation and Excellence (2014/2015) and the Department of Sociology’s Vencerémos Award (2016). Dr. Clark-Ibáñez was selected as the CSUSM nominee for the CSU Wang Family Excellence Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship (2021-2022). Additionally, she was honored to accept the Kerri Mowen Excellence in Faculty Mentoring award at CSUSM (2022-2023). Most recently, she was thrilled to be the recipient of the Harry E. Brakebill Distinguished Professor award for exceptional accomplishments in teaching, research and service (2024-2025).  

She has been the recipient and led or co-led numerous grants – see her vitae for a list that includes funding for projects related to computer science, undocumented immigration, civic engagement, and more!  

SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS 

Serving Latinx/e Students. From 2015-2017, Dr. Clark-Ibáñez was the Faculty Lead for the university’s US Department of Education Title V grant for Hispanic Serving Institutions called PASO (Pathways for Academic Success and Opportunity), where she created and oversees culturally validating programs related to Latinxs in teaching, student mentoring, and faculty development.  

National Latino Research Center. Dr. Clark-Ibáñez was the Faculty Director of the National Latino Research Center (2016-2020) where she worked on applied and community participatory research projects in our region on such topics as Latinx civic engagement, elders, youth empowerment, education, and incarceration.  

Student Clubs. For 10 years, she was the advisor to STAND (Standing Together as oNe Dream), a student club dedicated to issue of undocumented immigrants. She coordinated a regional listserve, Education Without Borders, to inform educators, students, and families about the latest on immigration at the local level and beyond. She is the founding club advisor to Social Justice Studies Club, which serves Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies majors (and their friends).  

Community Connections. Dr. Clark-Ibáñez recently completed an 8-year position as am executive board member for the Universal Unitarian Refugee & Immigration Services & Education (UURISE), a non-profit legal center serving San Diego North County and beyond. She is honored to now serve on the CHABSS Dean’s Community Advisory Board as a Faculty Member Representative.